2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

yeah, i don't know why everyone is always knocking SGA down!

 

Would be bonkers for Denver to give up on Gordon. He's like one of the greatest #3 guys of all time. I'm not even kidding with this - he reminds of Worthy in a lot of ways. Just this massive dude with freak athletic abilities who could guard every position on the court. He's not a great fit for the Lakers as he's the same size as Luka and Lebron but I'd take him lol

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/kRbmGZ7Gxcc?si=ThIjHiEzgIbjKuya

Why I believe the eye test greater than analytics

 

it's an interesting question, as his defensive metrics have absolutely tanked since he started getting the leg injuries. one could argue that denver should get out now like how boston got out from jrue holiday.

the flipside of that is that he's also a jrue holiday candidate in the way boston got him the first time, lol.

i'd have to really trust my scouts and medical team on this one. but yeah, part of me is just like, you get him and figure it out bc he's been such a valuable glue guy. i'd be fully on board if i knew we were losing lebron, as they basically play the same spot (albeit in different ways).

 

Boston had a duplicate Holiday in White and they had Pritchard as well so different situation IMO (although one could argue they paid the price at the end anyway for not having Jrue around for the 76ers). I don't see anybody on the Denver roster including Watson or who they're likely to get that can replace what Gordon brings for them. He's a freakin cheat code on both offense and defense for them (losing that world class lob threat plus 3 point shooting plus secondary playmaker messed up their offense as much as their D when he's out). Is there a chance his body continue to implode - absolutely - I just think you just got to bite the bullet on this one.

Kind of like Magic was able to keep the Lakers going but really Showtime kind of ended when Worthy became this turnaround jumpshooting guy instead of the muscle car that he was in his prime. Certain pieces when you lose it maybe it time to start the rebuild lol

 

It's just hard for me to see chronic hamstring issues getting better in Gordon's 30s. Kind of feels like him playing on that hamstring strain in last year's playoffs might have changed the trajectory of his career.

 

yeah, denver's in a really tough spot, imo. they probably have a good sense of whether gordon can be himself defensively again, but i felt like this was their year, tbh. the bills are coming due, and i don't see any easy path to improvement (in fact, i only see paths downward, tbh). maybe their gm is more creative and resourceful than i'm imagining, though.

if it were me, i'd see if someone would bite on sending me a young guy who i think is ready to break out for either murray or gordon (or both).

 

Poor guy, he really gets picked on. Maybe he should play in the WNBA, he could hold his own there!!!!

 

Why The Lakers NEED To Trade For Giannis Antetokounmpo

 

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...en-lebron-reaves-bobby-marks-top-20-contracts

 

Bobby Marks (ESPN) Offers CONTRACT IDEAS for Lakers FREE AGENTS, Other KEY NAMES

 

5 Marcus Smart 3&D Guard Replacements | 2026 Offseason Lakers Free Agent Signings

 

Just crazy how injuries just end careers: forgot about fast Worthy went from being a top dog to struggling to out of league. His decline started at 30 eerily similar to what going on with Gordon. Two big explosive PF athletes.



One player is a case study not a trend but there seems to be a real paradox here IMO - why are there so many injuries but Lebron/Steph/Durant are doing something also kind of unprecedented? I believe the data and Lebron himself a guy whose career started in the handcheck era thinks playing now is much harder on the body.

Is the idea here - you got to have one of those freakish work ethics to keep your body in shape and spend the money on taking yourself not on hookers and blow (i kid but you get the point)?

 

I think Braun will be easier to get off of than we think. I said the same thing with MPJ and they did it relatively easy.

The bulls will take a chance on Braun in my opinion. There is a good chance his poor shooting was stemming from his ankle and calf injuries that kept him out half a season and he was still dealing with in the playoffs.

Giddey will also get him into transition opportunities where Braun really benefitted alongside Westbrook. It’s not a bad 1-3 with Giddey, Braun and Buzelis. All on the same timeline.

 

I think there is a decent chance Denver blows it up in some way. They will either get rid of Braun & Cam Johnson. Which is possible. Or one of Murray / Gordon.

I think getting rid of Murray would be the bravest decision. If you get rid of a 2nd option just as he is about to decline, you look like a genius. If he goes on to play excellently, you become your franchise’s Nico. Could they dumped him to the Nets for a few firsts?

Getting rid of Gordon seems to be the smartest with his recent injury issues. But when he is healthy he is such a game changer. I see him transitioning into a 3&D PF like Al Horford to save his body a bit. I’d love to take a chance on him, but the Nuggets are going to overvalue him.

It’s just hard with the Nuggets, they got themselves into a real corner. They have good parts, but those parts are too expensive now and haven’t been able to get healthy all in one go.

Murray / Brown
Braun / THJ
Watson / Cam
Gordon / Jones
Jokic / Val

That was probably their best chance at another ring, but their 2-3-4’s were all banged up.

 

Waiting for Olynyk to step on Shai foot and pull someone's hair

 

Think I am coming around on the idea of Herb Jones. If you could get him for Vado+DK+1st I’d do it. He has more offensive versatility than Vando and he would get better looks here. The question would be do they like DK enough? You also are essentially saving the 4 mil dumping DK.